Matthew is a British classical tenor currently living in London.
His most recent project has been a recording of British music comprising folk songs, classical English song repertoire and orchestral arrangements of well known anthems. He was privileged to work on this disc with renowned accompanist Malcolm Martineau, The London Philharmonic Orchestra and guitarist Rufus Miller at Abbey Road Studios. Exquisite classical art songs by George Butterworth, Roger Quilter, Vaughan Williams and Gerald Finzi sit alongside the folk songs of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales in this refreshing portrayal of some of our finest music.
Matthew gained his first professional experience singing in Italy’s opera houses as a boy treble. He was sought after as a soloist during this time, particularly for the music of Benjamin Britten and sang the role of ‘Miles’ in Britten’s opera The Turn of the Screw for productions at Teatro Reggio di Torino (1995), Teatro Comunale di Bologna (1996) and Teatro di Roma (1997). Success on the opera stage at a young age instilled in him a passion and ambition for singing that has gone on to shape his future.
After rediscovering his voice as a tenor in his late teens Matthew went on to study Music at The University of York and was a member of the Choir of York Minster. He then moved to London and in the following years worked with some of the UK’s most highly regarded ensembles. Since his early twenties Matthew has been a member of the acclaimed chamber choirs The Sixteen and Tenebrae and the solo voice ensemble I Fagiolini. As well as singing at many of Europe’s best known concert venues, projects with these groups and others have taken him all over the world and have included performances for festivals in Japan, China, Australia, Bermuda, the US and Africa.
In 2011 Matthew won a scholarship to study as a postgraduate at The Royal College of Music, London. During his year of study there he was also a Susan Chilcott Scholarship holder and a Royal Philharmonic Society Young Artist.
In the UK, Matthew has sung as a soloist for a number of orchestras including The English Concert, The Hanover Band, The Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, The London Philharmonic Orchestra and Northern Sinfonia at venues including the Wigmore Hall, The Albert Hall, The Queen Elizabeth Hall, St John’s Smith Square and The Sage Gateshead. Matthew made his operatic debut as a tenor in 2008 singing a lead role, Michael, in the world premiere of Tod Machover’s opera, ‘Skellig’ at the Sage, Gateshead. In 2011 he worked at Dijon Opera in a production of Purcell’s ‘Dido and Aeneas’. In 2012 he sang the role of Jupiter in Handel’s ‘Semele’ for the Ahmadi Music Group in Kuwait in the country’s first ever performance of a Handel Opera. Recent highlights have included Bach, St. Matthew Passion for the Boston Handel and Haydn Society; Britten, War Requiem for Jonathan Willcocks in Salisbury Cathedral; Monteverdi, 1610 Vespers, at the Royal Albert Hall for the National Youth Choirs of Great Britain. In 2016 Matthew sang the lead role in Monteverdi’s Orfeo in Venice, Italy. More performances are planned for 2017 in Norway and the UK.
Matthew is a keen photographer and follower of wildlife conservation.
You can view his photography here
At Abbey Road with the London Philharmonic Orchestra
Till the Stars Fall
1. The Turtle Dove
- English folk song arranged by Ralph Vaughan Williams
2. I Vow To Thee, My Country
- Gustav Holst arranged by Jonathan Rathbone
3. She Moved Through The Fair
- Irish folk song arranged by Rufus Miller and Matthew Long
4. The Thought
- Gustav Holst
5. My Love Is Like A Red, Red, Rose
- Scottish folk song arranged by Ben Parry
6. The Ash Grove
- Welsh traditional song arranged by Rufus Miller and Matthew Long
7. Go, Lovely Rose
- Roger Quilter
8. Jerusalem
- Hubert Parry arranged by Jonathan Rathbone
9. O Waly, Waly / The Water Is Wide
- English folk song arranged by Rufus Miller and Matthew Long
10. Loveliest Of Trees
- George Butterworth
11. Danny Boy
- Irish melody arranged by Ben Parry
12. Tired
- Ralph Vaughan Williams
13. Weep You No More, Sad Fountains
- Roger Quilter
14. Greensleeves
- 16th Century English folk tune arranged by Ben Parry
15. The Last Rose Of Summer
- Irish folk song arranged by Rufus Miller and Matthew Long
16. The Parting Glass
- Irish folk song arranged by Rufus Miller and Matthew Long
17. Only The Wanderer
- Gerald Finzi
18. As I Lay In The Early Sun
- Gerald Finzi
19. Speak, Music
- Edward Elgar arranged by Ben Parry
20. Auld Lang Syne
- Scottish traditional song arranged by Rufus Miller and Matthew Long
21. Orpheus With His Lute
- Roger Quilter arranged by Ben Parry
22. The Turtle Dove
- English folk song arranged by Rufus Miller and Matthew Long
20.00, York Minster, York, UK
Monteverdi, "1610 Vespers"
With I Fagiolini
19.00, Town Hall, Cheltenham
Monteverdi, "Orfeo"
Matthew sings the title role in this semi staged production.
13.00 Cadogan Hall, London (broadcast live on BBC radio 3)
Lunchtime Chamber Music Prom 1
"Possente Spirto" from Monteverdi's "Orfeo"
Roderick Williams, Monteverdi Madrigals
21.00, Basilica di San Francesco, Assisi, Italy
Carissimi, "Jephte"
19.30, Durham Cathedral, Durham, UK
Monteverdi, "1610 Vespers"
I Fagiolini
19.30, Solihull School Chapel, Solihull, UK
Britten, "St Nicolas"
Sinfonia of Birmingham, Oliver Walker
19.30, Grote Kerk, Zwolle, Netherlands
J.S.Bach, "St Matthew Passion"
De Nieuwe Philharmonie Utrecht
19.30, Cunera Kerk, Rhenen, Netherlands
J.S.Bach, "St Matthew Passion"
De Nieuwe Philharmonie Utrecht
13.30, Nikolai Kerk, Utrecht, Netherlands
J.S.Bach, "St Matthew Passion"
De Nieuwe Philharmonie Utrecht
Time TBC, Trondheim, Norway
Claudio Monteverdi, "Orfeo"
I Fagiolini, Trondheim Baroque
19.30, King's Place, London
Evangelist in Heinrich Schutz' "A Christmas story"
Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment
17.00, Kristiansund, Norway
Handel, "Messiah"
KKKK Festival
19.30, St Salvator's chapel, St Andrew's, Scotland
Madrigals by Monteverdi
With I Fagiolini
Poulenc, Poéme d'un Jour
With I Fagiolini
20.30, Teatro de la Maestranza, Seville, Spain
Handel, "Messiah"
Real Orquestra Sinfonica de Sevilla, John Butt
20.30, Teatro de la Maestranza, Seville, Spain
Handel, "Messiah"
Real Orquestra Sinfonica de Sevilla, John Butt
Handel, "Messiah"
Dunedin Consort, John Butt
20.00, Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, Glasgow, Scotland
Handel, "Messiah"
Dunedin Consort, John Butt
17.00, Trondheim, Norway
Handel, "Messiah"
KKKK Festival
17.00, Kristiansund, Norway
Handel, "Messiah"
KKKK Festival
With I Fagiolini, 18.00, Villa I Tatti, Florence, Italy
"Venetian Carnival"
19.30, Romsey Abbey
Handel, "Messiah"
Winchester and County Music Festival, Derek Beck
With I Fagiolini, The Barbican Centre, London
19.30, St John's Smith Square, London
Monteverdi, "1610 Vespers"
Crouch End Festival Chorus
13.30, Jacobikerk Utrecht, Netherlands
Bach, " St Matthew Passion" (arias)
Nieuwe Philharmonie Utrecht, Johannes Leertouwer
13.30, Nicolaikerk, Utrecht, Netherlands
Bach, " St Matthew Passion" (arias)
Nieuwe Philharmonie Utrecht, Johannes Leertouwer
St Patricks Cathedral, Armagh
Christ Church, Dublin, Ireland
Christ Church, Dublin, Ireland
19.30/15.00, Symphony Hall, Boston, USA
Bach, "St Matthew Passion"
Harry Christophers, Handel and Haydn Society
19.00, St Michael le Belfrey, York
Handel, "Messiah"
Peter Seymour, Yorkshire Baroque Soloists
19.30, Ampleforth Abbey, Yorkshire
Handel, "Messiah"
19.30, Chichester Cathedral
Benjamin Britten, "War Requiem"
Jonathan Wilcocks, Chichester Singers
19.30, St John's Smith Square, London
Tippett, "Five Spirituals" / Haydn, "Paukenmesse"
Hilary Davan Wetton, London Mozart Players
17.00, Kristiansund, Norway
Handel, "Messiah"
KKKK Festival
19.00, Oratorio di Santa Cecilia, Bologna, Italy
"Faith and devotion in the middle ages"
The Dufay Collective
Afternoon/evening performances, Leeds Grand Theatre
Duet, "Pur ti Miro" from Monteverdi's " L'incoronazione di Poppea"
Opera North
19.30, Jack Lyons Concert Hall, York
"Venetian Carnival"
I Fagiolini
19.30, James Memorial Chapel, New York, USA
"How Like an Angel" ( Modern circus and live consort music)
I Fagiolini, Circa
19.30, Wigmore Hall, London
Purcell, " The Indian Queen"
The Sixteen, Harry Christophers
19.30, Ampleforth Abbey, Yorkshire
Monteverdi, "1610 Vespers"
19.30, St Martin in the Fields, London
Handel, "Messiah"
The Feinstein Ensemble
19.30, Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, London
Monteverdi Madrigals and duets ( with I Fagiolini)
19:30, Bloxham Parish Church
Ariel Ramirez, " Misa Criolla"
19.30, St Andrew's Church, Surbiton
Monteverdi, "1610 Vespers"
Kingston Choral Society, Andrew Griffiths